บท 623: Destruction and Construction

Mensfeld stood over a massive table with an equally sized map of the continent lying across it, around him stood his nobility and generals, all seeming confused at this sudden call. "You're all finally here? Good. Then we can become planning for the immediate future." he says.

"Apologies my liege but, who are we attacking?" he asks, most nodding at the rather obvious question.

Mensfeld nods, "I'm sure some of you thought we were going to fight back against King Radovid, or Nilfgaard... But that's not what we're here for, no, I gathered you here to strike against those fiends who attempted to assassinate me and successfully assassinated Reverend Albwin."

A few of the more intensely religious men can feel their blood boiling already, "Here, here!"

Kreld interjects, "Forgive me King, but after the dragon attack on Rakverelin we are simply not prepared to launch an assault." he says quickly, dreading the man's response.

Mensfeld nods, "Indeed, I am not going to force your city to assist in such dire straights."

Kreld "Then-"

Mensfeld "Instead, I wish to have Kreld Dragon Bane help lead the army, I'm sure you know the men think very highly of you, our enemies probably even more so."

...

Kreld gives a resigned nod, hopefully he'd make it back to his wife so he could begin rebuilding his city. "Very well sire, I am at your disposal."

Mensfeld nods, "Of course you are, now. Our spies have gained information that our enemy is severely lacking in men and means to protect themselves. I expect an easy victory, but we will treat this as a proper conflict for practice, and to prevent any mishaps should the intelligence prove unreliable."

An Eternal Fire priest nods, "The newly instated Reverend Favro Vivort will support your efforts to avange the late Reverend Albwin Ferbert."

Mensfeld "Good." he says, pointing at Kaer Morhen on the map, "This is where our enemy hides, they will likely barricade themselves within the old keep there. Our siege equipment will bring it down like a house of cards though!" he exclaims with a laugh.

"What will we do about those Masked Magic Assassins?" one person asks, clearly fearful of those people who'd easily infiltrated one of the most fortified positions in the city, as well as making it out alive.

Mensfeld "They are but assassins, faced with Kaedweni knights they will bend the knee or die!"

Kreld "Those Masked people aren't ordinary assassins my liege, they were able to best me in single combat while surrounded by Witcher Hunters and armoured guards." he says, doubting anything but an army could properly bring them down, especially if they're able to use magic.

Mensfeld "Hold your touch, speak only of victory and do your role well, otherwise I'll find someone to replace you." he states, pointing at him. "Now, begone all of you, we have planning to do, men to train, and an army to prepare!" he shouts, causing everyone to quickly leave.

After everyone had left Mensfeld was still standing over the table, not thinking about strategies, but how King Radovid would react to his actions. He'd received a letter from him not long ago, explicitly warning him to not antagonise those in Kaer Morhen. However with the information that they were unprotected, he knew Radovid would reward him for removing a threat to the North's efforts.

The Dragon attack on Rakverelin was worrying, but could be deduced as a fluke accident, comparable to an earthquake, volcanic eruption or floods. It was something to keep in mind, but not actively worry about... Of course, Mensfeld knew that if the dragon attempted to attack Ard Carraigh it'd be shot down in no time, having already had the battlements fitted with enough ballistae to blot out the sun.

Elsewhere.

Alphys points at a blueprint diagram detailing what she knew about the previous core's functions, "See here? I was surprised to find that it wasn't only geothermal energy that the core utilised... But magical energy too! With Sans help I've managed to separate it into simple parts which should help with designing another!" she excitedly says to Reima and Asgore who're standing opposite her.

Reima "That sounds great... Only if it doesn't permanently affect the ambient magic of the area." he says, feeling as if it was more important for the city to be magically powerful than to have electricity.

Asgore nods, "I've grown fond of the tingle of magic in the air, makes me feel at home wherever I may be." he says slowly with a smile.

Alphys perks up, "Well! You'll both be happy to hear that the probability of it permanently affecting ambient magic is almost too low to quantify. Think of it as a... Steam generator... The water evaporates but still exists in one form or another, magic though doesn't have any other form aside form maybe the crystalline one Master Logan showed me, but that is another matter entirely... What I'm trying to say is, the core will take in magical energy, and spit out an equal amount while creating electricity."

...

Reima "I feel like we're coming close to breaking the laws of physics... Isn't infinite energy supposedly impossible?" he asks.

Alphys gives him a look as if he were a five-year-old, "Reima, where does your magic come from?"

Reima shrugs, "My soul, why?"

Alphys "Then, isn't your soul producing infinite energy?"

...

Reima scratches the back of his head, "I suppose your right..."

Asgore chuckles at their interaction, "Then, Alphys, when can we expect to see this be created?" he asks.

...

Alphys rubs her hands together, "I'm not too sure King as-Priminster Asgore... Sans is busy with his Comedy Club so it's just me and Rickert trying to experiment with materials that'd be useful to use."

Reima "Rickert's helping you out?"

Alphys nods, "His knowledge, engineering skills, and magical abilities were surprising as well as incredibly helpful."

Reima nods, at least Rickert found someone who won't mock him incessantly... "So, about you needing materials... Have you heard of Titanite yet?" he asks with a grin.